Fri 28.2.

Watergraafsmeer Town House Apartment by Chris Collaris, photo: Tim van de Velde

Dutch architect Chris Collaris has completely renovated a two-storey apartment with a small basement and garden in Amsterdam’s residential Watergraafsmeer, a polder reclaimed in 1629.

Watergraafsmeer Town House Apartment by Chris Collaris, photo: Tim van de Velde

The apartment has been turned into a light and open space by raising the height of the existing ceiling and a new organisation of the functional spaces around an existing staircase on the ground floor. The wardrobe, bathroom and part of the kitchen cabinets have been built around the existing staircase in order to get a clear organization of the kitchen entrance and living area.

Watergraafsmeer Town House Apartment by Chris Collaris

Ceiling high glass doors are used for a light entry hall and the central part of the living room. “The visual connection through the glass doors makes the entrance hall and living area feel like one big connected space.” says Collaris.

Watergraafsmeer Town House Apartment by Chris Collaris, photo: Tim van de Velde

“The deep living space has been functionally divided into a lounge area with a fireplace in the front and a dining and kitchen area in the back of the apartment. The lounge and dining area are connected with a multifunctional cabinet in the centre of the living room, which serves the apartment with a book, dvd and crockery set storage space and a working bay desk. The cabinet is made out of birch wood panels with a white high pressure laminate top layer.”

Watergraafsmeer Town House Apartment by Chris Collaris, photo: Tim van de Velde

“In order to get enough natural daylight in the middle part of the living area the ceiling has been raised, which maximises the daylight potential of the existing windows in the front and back of the apartment. Also the oak wood floor has a soft white wash finish in order to make a more light living area in the full deepness of the apartment. The dining area in the back of the apartment has been enlarged by an extention of the house with glass doors towards the garden. A small bar area has been situated in between the open kitchen and dining area.”

Watergraafsmeer Town House Apartment by Chris Collaris, photo: Tim van de Velde

“On the first floor, a reorganisation of the existing ground plan has been made in order to make three bedrooms, a bathroom, and a small workspace. The washing machine and tumble dryer are situated in a hidden cabinet in the connecting hall. In the long section, the hall has two ceiling high sliding doors towards the workspace in the front and a small bedroom in the back of the apartment. The wardrobe closets in the bedrooms have been made with oak wood veneer panels with a white wash finish. The master bedroom has a loggia terrace towards the garden.”

Watergraafsmeer Town House Apartment by Chris Collaris, photo: Tim van de Velde

Watergraafsmeer Town House Apartment by Chris Collaris, photo: Tim van de Velde

Watergraafsmeer Town House Apartment by Chris Collaris, photo: Tim van de Velde